BAYAMBANG—This first-class municipality in the central part of Pangasinan has etched another milestone in its history.

As it celebrated its 400th founding anniversary last April 4, Bayambang succeeded in grabbing the Guinness Book of World Records’ (GWR) longest barbecue grill.

GWR official adjudicator Seyda Subasi made the announcement shortly after the grill.
“Bayambang made it!” were Subasi’s words as the new record of an 8.016-kilometer grill of freshwater fish was set through the Kalutan ed Dalan.

The Kalutan ed Dalan is the major event of the month-long Malangsi Fishtival (freshwater fishes festival) and a part of the province’s 434th founding anniversary,

“We are very happy and I couldn’t thank enough the teamwork everyone that has made this feat possible,” said Mayor Ricardo Camacho.

Participants and the crowd that joined the event was estimated to have reached 100,000.

The town has wrested the record for the world’s longest barbecue from M1 Shopping Centre in Gaziantep, Turkey which set up a 6.16-kilometer grill of meat grilled in a shish kebab style on November 8, 2009.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. together with Camacho and other officials led the ceremonial lighting of the long grill that cooked around 60,000 kilograms of freshwater fishes, mainly tilapia (St. Peter’s fish).

“I am very proud as this achievement of Bayambang is also an achievement of our province and our country,” Espino remarked.

The provincial government provided 50,000 kilograms of the fish while the remaining 10,000 kilograms were from the municipal government.

Spectators who chose their places alongside smoking grills that lined up through 10 villages — Wawa, Telbang, Buayaen, Poblacion, Zone III, Zone V, Tamaro, Tambac, Nalsian Norte and Nalsian Sur – partook of the grilled bounty.

Malangsi Fishtival, which started only in 2009, is gives tribute to the town’s  freshwater aquaculture industry which is dependent largely on the Mangabul Lake.
The town produces fishes like tilapia, pla-pla, hito, mudfish gurami as well as prawns, among others.

Other events scheduled are the Mutya ng Bayambang pageant, search for the Most Distinguished Bayambangueno, street dancing competition, cycling competition, nights of different sectors, exhibits, and cultural shows, among others.

Today April 6, a grand float competition and float parade will be held in the morning and the quadricentennial grand ball and awards night in the evening will wind up the town’s gala for the year, which started last February 23.

Presidential Proclamation No. 131dated March 24, 2011 declared every 5th day of April as a non-working day in Bayambang.

Bayambang was founded as a town by the Spaniards on April 5, 1614. It was also then declared by General Emilio Aguinaldo as the Pangasinan capital, the seat of the fifth capital of the short-lived Philippine Republic in 1899.

Almost four centuries today, its residents and visitors from all walks of life have put up with the sun’s glaring heat at 3 in the afternoon of April 4, 2014 to take part in the grilling of thousands of freshwater fishes and in the making of yet another history.–Johanne R. Macob

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